LLEYTON Hewitt proposed to soap star girlfriend Bec Cartwright after losing the Australian Open last night in a spirited game against Russian Marat Safin.The couple got engaged soon after the match ended at Melbourne Park, Channel 7 reported today.

"The big news down here is the engagement of Lleyton Hewitt and Bec Cartwright just after the match last night," Seven said.

Hewitt apparently got down on bended knee in a quiet corner before heading into a private party celebrating the end of the competition.

The station reported that Home and Away star Cartwright had had no advance warning, but Hewitt was prepared with a "big diamond".

The 23-year-old tennis player had apparently hoped to propose after winning the match, but instead lost against the fourth-seeded Russian 1-6 6-3 6-4 6-4.

He and Cartwright had their first public outing as a couple in early December and she has sat courtside throughout his Australian Open matches.

Hewitt separated from his former fiance, Belgian tennis star Kim Clijsters, late last year following a four-year romance.